Letter: Parks: Why I Am Running For LGWCD

I am running for Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District supervisor because I am not satisfied with how our Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District operates. When elected to Supervisor Seat 1 on June 25, I hope to make a difference.

We have problems that are not addressed, and residents who are not listened to. This historic election is your opportunity to have your voice heard by electing someone who wants the job and wants to listen and help.

Our roads, while some are now improved, do not have proper traffic-calming devices. Studies report speed humps slow down emergency vehicle response. National Fire Academy research report emergency response time is slowed by 10 seconds per hump for fire trucks and even more time per hump for ambulances with patients onboard. Patients in emergency transport can also be further injured due to shifting and jolts while traveling over speed humps. Recently my neighbor fell and broke two bones in his leg and was painfully emergency transported over C Road’s 22 speed humps.

Residents with disabilities, including ones with back disorders, find it very painful and may suffer additional injury because of speed hump travel to and from their homes. Additionally, these speed humps, while reducing car speed to 10 to 20 mph, have a much lesser effect on heavy sedans, trucks and SUVs. Instead as an alternative, our 30 mph primary emergency response routes should consider standardized 22-foot-wide speed tables that reduce car speed to 20 to 30 mph and lessen jolts. This solution maintains posted speed limits instead of slowing cars more significantly.

Please help show the Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District that your point of view is important and vote.

Roy Parks
Loxahatchee Groves